Core Templates {{date}} inside YAML frontmatter ignores Templates date format and falls back to system locale

tonis · March 4, 2026, 9:35pm

Steps to reproduce

macOS with European regional format (date format: DD.MM.YYYY)
.
When using the Core Templates plugin, {{date}} respects the configured setting in: “Settings → Templates → Date format” outside of YAML frontmatter.
However, inside YAML frontmatter, the inserted date is reformatted using the system locale instead of the configured date format.
.
Example:
Settings → Templates → Date format: YYYY-MM-DD
.
Template:

date: {{date}}

Outside YAML: {{date}}

Did you follow the troubleshooting guide? [Y/N]

Yes, sandbox vault and regular vault with community plugins not enabled.

Expected result

date: 2026-03-04

Outside YAML: 2026-03-04

Actual result

date: 04.03.2026

Outside YAML: 2026-03-04

Environment

SYSTEM INFO:
Obsidian version: 1.12.4
Installer version: 1.9.12
Operating system: Darwin Kernel Version 25.3.0: Wed Jan 28 20:49:24 PST 2026; root:xnu-12377.81.4~5/RELEASE_ARM64_T8132 25.3.0
Login status: not logged in
Language: en
Insider build toggle: off
Live preview: on
Base theme: adapt to system
Community theme: none
Snippets enabled: 0
Restricted mode: on
RECOMMENDATIONS:
none

Additional information

ariehen · March 4, 2026, 9:55pm

In your template note, you can write

---
date: "{{date:YYYY-MM-DD}}"
---

to force a format.

edit: Just had a chance to check on desktop in the Sandbox. My {{date}} defaults to YYYY-MM-DD, so changed it to MMM.Do.YYYY in the Templates settings for a test.

Applying the template (below) to the note above works as expected; the output is the same for both:

When you get a chance, can you try in the Sandbox vault or a new vault to check the behavior there?